Garden Planning

February is a special month that requires planning to guarantee a successful year in the garden. Ensuring a bountiful garden requires preparation. The Valentine month ranks as my favorite because it’s my birthday month! This means I can bribe my whole family into helping me right?

Gardening is something I can do with my family or on my own. Spending time in the soil provides time to wind down, gather my thoughts, and prepare for my week. However, it always nice to have the help! An important piece of the puzzle is knowing in which zone the garden lies. Mine is Zone 8. Zone 8a to be exact. Zones help gardeners determine what to plant and when to prepare.

Planning List

What we plant on our homestead in February?

1. We plant things like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots. beets, turnips and other root veggies. Carrots, Beets, Turnips, and Cauliflower are veggies that only produce once. I stagger the planting so that my family can harvest continously. Broccoli will reproduce.
2. I make sure to organize seeds to prepare for Spring planting. I start the following seedlings in my greenhouse  in February:
   1. Tomatoes
   2. Lettuce
   3. Kale
   4. Onions
   5. Peas
   6. Spinach
   7. Beans
3. We prepare the beds
   1. Using either a compost I have been turning and preparing for the last 3-6 months
   2. Purchasing compost from a local supplier
      1. Garden Compost
      2. Mushroom Compost
4. My family and I remove any and all dead debris from the beds
5. We care for maintenance items:  hoses, bed borders, stone work and gates can be repaired during this month allowing for plenty of time to tend to plants through the busy months of Spring and Summer.
6. We continue to harvest  broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots and turnips
7. I Prepare and store what my family doesn’t eat.

Homesteading can be so rewarding mentally, physically and spiritually. More tips on composting coming in another Post.

I will link my seed storage, seed companies and tools

https://www.liketoknow.it/argumaniz.acres

For a complete planting guide:

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/earthkind/ekgarden14.html

Find your Zone:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

Please tag me in your instagram photos as you start preparing your Spring Garden! I would love to follow along! Gardening is sweeter together!